The Voice referendum: Lidia Thorpe reveals why she’s voting No

Senator Lidia Thorpe has revealed why she’s urging Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to ditch the Voice and pursue truth and treaty instead.

Lidia Thorpe has urged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to forget about the Voice and pursue truth, treaty and a Blak Republic that includes independent seats for First Nations people.

Senator Thorpe, a proud DjabWurrung Gunnai Gunditjmara woman, has outlined her plan to expand the Senate in an interview with the ABC’s Annabel Crabb on Kitchen Cabinet.

Speaking to the ABC last month, Senator Thorpe suggested that the Senate could be expanded to offer independent seats for first nation representatives without any change to the constitution.

“Why would First Nations people almost surrender and go into a constitution that we never asked for?’’ Senator Thorpe says.

“We need to go back to that and say, hang on, we haven’t said that you’re allowed here yet. You haven’t conquered us and you haven’t killed us off, haven’t wiped us out.”

Lidia Thorpe has called for the PM to forget about the Voice and focus on truth, treaty and a Blak Republic instead. Picture: ABC

During the interview, the former Greens Senator declares, “I’m there to infiltrate really, and to question the practices of colonial governance.”

“To remind them that we have not ceded sovereignty and to remind them that they don’t have consent to destroy the country and they don’t have consent to make decisions for our people,’’ she says. “The decisions have to come from the people.”

When asked if that sounds like an argument for a Voice to Parliament, Senator Thorpe it depends on the model.

“One with power. Yeah, but not one without power,’’ she says.

“Truth telling first. I think it’s important that every person who lives in this country understands the history and the true history of this country.”

Ms Thorpe spoke to ABC’s Annabel Crabb on Kitchen Cabinet. Picture: ABC

‘I’m there (parliament) to infiltrate,’ Ms Thorpe said. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Senator Thorpe proposes expanded Senate

Senator Thorpe then suggests that the answer may lie in expanding the Senate by legislation.

“We don’t need a referendum for a treaty, and we don’t need a referendum for extra Senate seats in that chamber,’’ she says.

“Don’t need a referendum. It’s, uh, the government can legislate if they wanted to.

“Hang on, are you saying just expand the Senate?’’ Crabb asks.

“Why not?’’ Thorpe replies.

“They do it in the Waitangi Treaty, in New Zealand. Labor can do it. Absolutely. I mean, if they wanted to.”

Senator Thorpe has previously proposed an expanded parliament at an Invasion Day rally.

“We have an opportunity to have a treaty … that could put 10 independent Blak seats in the parliament today. We want real power and we won’t settle for anything less,’’ she said.

Regardless of the outcome of the referendum, Senator Thorpe predicts Australia has some soul searching ahead.

“Even with a Yes. You know, there’s still a long way to go either way, because this country doesn’t know itself,’’ she says.

“It’s like this country has a mental health problem. It has an identity crisis. It doesn’t know its own history.”

Lidia Thorpe met Barnaby Joyce on an e-scooter

Senator Lidia Thorpe also discusses the day she almost ran over former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce on an e-scooter.

But she accused Liberal leader Peter Dutton of being too scared to talk to her when they bump into each other in the corridors of power.

“What about Barnaby Joyce? Do you get along with him?’’ host Annabel Crabb asks Senator Thorpe during the program.

“Oh, Barnaby, yeah. He’s a, he’s a bit of a joker,’’ Senator Thorpe replies.

“I almost ran him over on a scooter.”

Ms Thorpe (right, with Karl Stefanovic) revealed she almost ran over Barnaby Joyce on a scooter. Picture: Nine

Senator Thorpe reveals that the misadventure occurred shortly after she arrived in the Senate.

“When I first started at Parly, I wanted to take those Canberra scooters for a spin,’’ she says.

“They are so much fun. And I see this fellow walking down the street with his shopping bags and I’m like … Yeah, that’s Barnaby Joyce! So I went ‘How you going Barnaby?’ and he looked at me like, who the – who are you? You know.”

“What, did you burn out in front of him?’’ Crabb asks.

“Yeah, I cut him off. He couldn’t go any further,’’ Senator Thorpe replied.

“If he had, I would have run his feet over and I’m like, ‘I’m Lidia Thorpe, the new senator!’ And he’s just like, “Right …”

However, it’s a different story when it comes to Liberal leader Peter Dutton.

“We’ve not met,’’ she says.

“Yeah, I think he dodges me. Think he’s – met his match and he just can’t, he can’t deal, you know? So.

“Yeah! I call out to him all the time. “Hey, Dutton!” You know, come over and have a yarn. And he just walks off.

“Doesn’t want to know me. Which is fine.”

During the program, Senator Thope says that Canberra is a weird place and that’s why she likes to take off her shoes and walk on the grass.

“I’ve asked if you know, because I want cultural safety and I want a firepit,’’ she says.

“Everyone’s freezing outside. They just think I’m pulling out the black card or something, you know.”

Senator Thorpe discusses estranged dad

Senator Thorpe also discussed her estrangement from her dad, who went on Sky News and suggested she was spoiled as a child.

“I haven’t spoken to him since he threw me under the bus on the TV,’’ she says.

“And I was just, just to watch him, I was a bit sad for him, you know. I love my dad. I love him with all my heart. He was a good dad, um, in my early years, um, probably not a good husband, but he was a good dad to me. And I’m not angry with him.”

Kitchen Cabinet airs at 8pm on Tuesday or on iView.

Originally published as The Voice referendum: Lidia Thorpe reveals why she’s voting No